Social Work
Kathryn DePaolis, Chair and Director
department web page
Faculty
Bipasha Biswas, Edward C. Byrnes, Gerry R. Charvat, Stacey L. Chay, Kathryn DePaolis, Beth Halaas, Christopher Heckert, Timothy Hilton, Andrew Israel, Hannah Klaassen, Rie Kobayashi, Lynn Lewis, Vernon Loke, Kara Lopez, Melisa Majnarich, Garret McQuesten, Cindy Nover, Erica Pence, Amanda Reedy, Kara Rozeboom, Sarah Shears, Danelle Stone, Deborah Svoboda, Kristin Talbott.
Deborah Svoboda, Graduate (MSW) Program Director
Bipasha Biswas, BASW Program Director
Sarah Featherly, Director of Field Education and Training
Gerry R. Charvat, Child Welfare Training and Advancement Program Director
Christine Babcock, Student Services Coordinator
Colleen Mastel, Program Support Supervisor
Degrees
MSW–Social Work, Standard Program
MSW–Social Work, Advanced Standing Program
Required courses in this program of study may have prerequisites. Reference the course description section for clarification.
Undergraduate Programs
Mission of the BASW Program
The BASW program at Eastern Washington University's School of Social Work prepares competent, evidence-informed social workers to be agents of change serving client systems from local to global levels. This is accomplished through experiential learning and critical thinking, guided by the social work profession’s values including social justice and human dignity.
Accreditation
The School of Social Work at Eastern Washington University is accredited at the baccalaureate and master’s levels by the Council on Social Work Education.
Graduates of the School’s BASW Program will be able to:
2022 CSWE Core Competencies
- Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
- Advance human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice.
- Engage anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) in practice.
- Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
- Engage in policy practice.
- Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
School of Social Work Curriculum
The curriculum is designed to meet the goals of the program within a framework that includes a broad liberal arts education and focused professional social work education and socialization.
Credit for life experience cannot be given for any social work course.
Grades
Social work classes and support classes with a grade <C are not acceptable for graduation.
The Field Practicum
The field practicum experience in the social work program is considered a vital element of the curriculum leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree. It is the major vehicle that permits the student to discover abilities and areas of growth, integrate theory with practice, and explore the world of social welfare services. Students with prior volunteer or work experience will need to seek placements that offer new learning, different tasks, new contacts, and opportunities for personal growth.
To enter the practicum, students must have completed all of the social work courses up to the point of practicum entry with a minimum average GPA ≥2.7. The field practicum is open to majors only. Application for the practicum is completed in spring quarter of the student’s junior year. Based upon their learning objectives, students are carefully matched with public or private agency settings in diverse areas of service. Students with prior volunteer or work experience are urged to seek placements that offer different tasks, new contacts, and opportunities for personal growth.
Admissions
Application Procedures
There are two separate application procedures for admission. Students must be admitted to EWU and be admitted to the School of Social Work. Students seeking admission to the social work program must submit application materials prior to beginning the junior year, normally the winter or spring quarters. Pre-major advising is available through The Center for Academic Advising and Retention (CAAR) at advising@ewu.edu. Contact the School of Social Work at 509.359.6485 for any questions on the application requirements or process. Applications are available on the BASW web page. Visit this web page for application deadline information.
Admissions Criteria–students must be admitted to EWU (EWU Admissions) and be admitted to the School of Social Work.
- Applicants must have earned a minimum of 80 college credits.
- Applicants must have no more than three breath area core requirements (BACRs) to be completed at the time of their application.
- Courses that are in progress during the spring quarter in which the student is applying may be counted toward meeting the preceding criterion.
- Applicants must have completed ENGL 201 or an equivalent course at another college or university with a minimum grade ≥B- at the time of their application.
- Applicants must have completed MTHD 104 or MTHD 106 with a minimum grade of ≥C at the time of application.
- Students shall be advised at the time of application and admission that all BACR or EWU Graduation Requirements, except Senior Capstone, must be completed before a student may begin their practicum during the second year of the program.
- A minimum GPA ≥2.5 is required to apply.
- Previous Life or Work Experience cannot be substituted for course credit.
- Students must provide two professional or academic references, and one should be from a work experience supervisor.
Admission Requirement for Transfer Students and Students Completing Direct Transfer (DTA) Degrees
Early planning is highly advantageous to the student. Transfer students should make an appointment to see their advisor to assist in the transfer. Transfer students can contact the Social Work Student Service Coordinator at 509.359.6485 with any questions about the application process.
Applicants must have either one of the following:
- A completed Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) from a community college in Washington, an Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer (AAOT) from a community college in Oregon or a transfer degree from specific community colleges in Idaho and Montana. List of degrees that meet the DTA requirements.
- Those who have not completed a transfer degree and/or who are transferring from another university/college must have their credits evaluated on a course-by-course basis for approval of admission for the following requirements.
Graduate Program
The Master of Social Work (MSW) Program was established in 1974, following authorization by the state government to meet the need for graduate professional education in social work in the Inland Northwest. The first class of graduate students was admitted in 1975, at which time the program was granted accreditation candidacy status by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Full accreditation was conferred in 1976, reaffirmed in 1984, 1993, 2001, 2008, 2016, and 2025.
An MSW degree is required for eventual licensing for social workers in the State of Washington post-graduation. For social work licensing information, visit the WA State Department of Health website.
The Mission of the Master of Social Work Program
The MSW Program prepares advanced generalist practitioners to become effective leaders for socially just practice through the integration of skills, ethics, research, and theory, in advancing the well-being of individuals and society.
Social Work Program Learning Outcomes
The School of Social Work's (SSW) MSW Program is grounded in the CSWE Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (2022) that establish core competencies for social work graduates to:
- Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
- Advance human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice.
- Engage anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) in practice.
- Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
- Engage in policy practice.
- Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
MSW Program Options
The SSW offers the following options to earn the MSW degree in a standard program of 90 credits (full-time and part-time) and in an advanced standing curriculum of 51 credits (full-time and part-time) in different locations. A placement in an agency practicum with supervision by agency staff with a MSW degree is a cornerstone to social work education and professional development. The SSW uses a one practicum placement model with practicum hours in an agency running concurrently with coursework and practicum seminars. For the details on practicum expectations, policies, and placement process, visit the SSW-Practicum Information section below.
Standard MSW Program (90 credits): Full-time study includes in-person core courses and part-time study uses a hybrid format (partial in-person and partial online). The SSW uses a cohort model by admitting students to a cohort to move through the sequenced course of study together. These programs use the same curriculum and are taught by the same SSW faculty and our community MSW adjuncts. For more on the MSW Program visit the Social Work-MSW catalog page. Visit SSW-MSW Application Information for application opening dates and closing deadlines, and the quarter for start of term for each program. A course of study for each option is available on the Social Work-MSW webpage under Program Options.
Choosing the program option, delivery method, cohort start, and location that best fits a student's lifestyle is an important decision for successful degree completion.
Full-time MSW Program - Cheney: The full-time MSW Program delivers coursework in-person on a weekly basis on the Cheney campus for the first year and in Spokane at the Catalyst building for the second year. A new cohort of students begins every fall quarter. The cohort follows the standard academic-year calendar (fall, winter, and spring) and completes their degree within 2 years, excluding summer. Because of the demands of the full-time program, full-time employment is not recommended while a student is in the program.
Part-Time MSW Program: The part-time MSW Programs have been designed for people who must retain a full-time job or other full-time obligations while earning a graduate education, and may reside in Northwestern, Central, and Eastern Washington, and the Idaho panhandle. The part-time MSW Program uses a hybrid format for course delivery, partial in-person and partial online. The part-time cohorts begin in the summer quarter and the course of study uses all four quarters (summer, fall, winter, and spring) for a total of 3 years. With the required in-person sessions, students must prepare their schedules to travel to the location of the program, either Everett, WA or Spokane, WA. The part-time MSW Programs includes differential tuition, therefore, there is a higher per-credit fee than the full-time MSW Program to cover off-campus facilities and program coordination. Part-time student pay less in university fees.
- Everett: This part-time program delivers coursework during the weeknights in-person every other week and with online modules on alternating weeks. A new cohort of students begins in the summer quarter of even-numbered years with classes held in Everett, WA. This program is designed to serve students primarily from these counties: King (northern), Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom.
- Spokane: This part-time program delivers coursework in-person on three weekends per quarter with coursework online the remaining weeks. A new cohort of students begins in the summer quarter of odd-numbered years with classes held in Spokane, WA. This program is designed to serve students primarily from central and eastern Washington counties, and the Idaho panhandle counties.
Advanced Standing MSW Program (51 credits): This program allows graduates of a CSWE accredited BASW or BSW undergraduate program to complete the MSW Program with 51 credits. Visit the SSW MSW Application Information webpage for deadlines and start of term dates.
- Full-Time: A cohort of students for the advanced standing curriculum begins each summer with a seminar on generalist social work curriculum. The cohort joins the current cohort of full-time students each fall quarter. The advanced standing curriculum is completed with the summer seminar and 3 quarters (fall, winter, and spring).
- Part-Time: A cohort of students for the advanced standing curriculum begins with a summer seminar on the generalist social work curriculum and is joining a current cohort. The Everett PT MSW Program accepts students for the advanced standing curriculum on odd numbered years. The Spokane PT MSW Program accepts students for the advanced standing curriculum on even numbered years. For both these part-time MSW Programs, the advanced standing curriculum is completed with the summer seminar plus 6 quarters (winter, spring, summer, fall, winter, and spring).
Admission Requirements for the MSW Program
Admission to the SSW MSW Programs is dependent on application materials submitted during the regular application cycle for the program. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) sets the standards for social work education in the U.S. These standards along with the EWU Graduate Programs policies, and the SSW policies set the foundation for the admission criteria.
A GRE examination is not required for admission to the MSW programs (SSW policy). Previous life or work experience cannot be substituted for course credit (EWU policy and CSWE standard). Previous coursework used towards an earned undergraduate degree cannot be used towards the MSW (EWU policy) with the exception of a BASW/BSW degree. When necessary, the EWU Graduate Programs policy allows graduate students to complete their graduate degree over a six year period. Previous MSW Program credits from EWU or another CSWE accredited MSW Program may be reviewed for potential credit in the EWU MSW Program. Contact the Graduate Program Director at MSW@ewu.edu with questions about admission criteria.
Admission Requirements Specific to Standard MSW Program
- Successful completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
- Have earned a cumulative GPA ≥3.00 in the most recent undergraduate degree. Upon recommendation of the Graduate Program Director, the Dean of Graduate Programs may admit a limited number of students, with a GPA <3.00, based upon considerations which includes performance in relevant graduate courses and faculty evaluations.
- Completion of the EWU Graduate Application, payment of the application fee, and submission of Social Work required materials.
- If an International Student, meet the EWU requirements for an International Graduate Application.
Admission Requirements Specific to Advanced Standing MSW Program
There are no exceptions to the criteria for advanced standing placement in the MSW Program.
- A bachelor’s degree in social work (BASW or BSW) from a CSWE accredited undergraduate social work program.
- A cumulative GPA ≥3.00 from the undergraduate degree.
- Completion of the EWU Graduate Application, payment of the application fee, and submission of Social Work required materials.
- If an International Student, meet the EWU requirements for an International Graduate Application.
Contact the Graduate Program Director to discuss the program, admission requirements, transfer questions, or other graduate program questions at MSW@ewu.edu
The Curriculum Delivery Plan
The MSW curriculum comprises sequenced generalist and specialized curriculum. Full-time students complete the curriculum in two years or six quarters. Part-time students complete the program in a sequenced manner over the course of three years or 12 quarters, including summer quarters.
MSW Program Curriculum
Overview of the Curriculum: The MSW Program prepares professional social workers to engage in advanced generalist practice across multiple systems, to provide leadership for organizational practice and community change, and to promote social, economic, and environmental justice. The curriculum consists of generalist and specialized practice curriculum for a comprehensive advanced generalist social work education. The SSW MSW Program curriculum does not require a comprehensive exam. The EWU graduate courses have the 500- and 600-level course numbers. Undergraduate courses are not typically counted towards a graduate degree.
The generalist curriculum focuses on social work practice, social welfare policy, and theories of human behavior in the social environment in a sequence of core courses. Courses include SOWK 532, SOWK 533, and SOWK 540. SOWK 541 develops knowledge of diverse populations with whom and on behalf of whom, social workers practice. The course also explores practice principles for working in an increasingly diverse society. SOWK 553 and SOWK 550 continue the development of practice knowledge and skills. The generalist curriculum prepares students for practice with systems of different sizes through the courses of SOWK 531 and SOWK 530. Students learn to critically evaluate and use research in their practice in the course SOWK 525.
The specialized curriculum prepares students for advanced generalist practice with systems of all sizes (individual, family, groups, communities, and organizations). Students develop leadership skills working with clients and communities to advance social justice, particularly for socially excluded, at-risk, or marginalized populations. Courses such as SOWK 602 and SOWK 603 present theoretical models and specific skills in engagement, assessment, and intervention with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. SOWK 568 examines the political context for decisions that affect the lives of clients. SOWK 526 covers advanced research and evaluation methodologies.
The practicum experience and its accompanying integrative seminar, run concurrently with the coursework. To complete the course of study beyond the core curriculum, the practicum experience, and practicum seminar, students are expected to take a total of 16 elective credits in the standard MSW Program and 12 elective credits in the advanced standing MSW Program. The course of study associated with the program option designates when electives can be taken during the academic year or over the summer term. The majority of the SSW electives offered are online either asynchronous or synchronous.
MSW Practicum Experience
The MSW Program requires an agency field practicum and accompanying integrative seminars sequenced over the course of study, SOWK 571 and SOWK 671, running concurrently with coursework. Before beginning the generalist practicum, students participate in the course SOWK 580. After completing this course, each student is placed in a social service agency or other public or private organization related to the welfare of people, community, environment, or society. Students will need to meet the essential skills expected in practicum placements in order to accept a placement, be it a background check, travel requirements, or other essential expectations outlined by the field placement.
Direction and instruction are provided by a faculty member of the SSW (referred to as Faculty Field Instructor [FFI] or a Faculty Field Liaison [FFL]) working collaboratively with a designated practicum site supervisor (Agency Field Instructor [AFI]). The faculty member, the agency site supervisor and the student negotiate a contract specifying student learning goals, potential practicum learning experiences, and the means for evaluating the practicum learning. EWU SSW has agreements to work with diverse rural and urban agencies and organizations throughout the area of service in the state of Washington and neighboring states as practicum placement settings. Students who wish to complete practicum requirements within their current or former workplace must indicate this desire to the School at the time of admission. This indication does not automatically ensure a practicum in the workplace. Consideration will be given to each request individually. Practicum placements in the workplace must conform with all of the School’s existing field practicum requirements.
The full outline of social work practicum expectations and policies are outlined in the SSW BASW/MSW Practicum Manual available on the SSW website under Field Education.
Generalist Field Practicum Hours in Summary
- Full-time students complete 320 hours (160 hours per quarter; approximately 16 hours per week) in practicum and 10 hours per quarter in practicum seminar for a total of 340 hours in two quarters.
- Part-time students complete 320 hours (106 hours per quarter; approximately 8-10 hours per week) in practicum and 9 hours per quarter in practicum seminar (27) for a total of 347 hours in three quarters.
Specialized Field Practicum Hours in Summary
- Full-time students complete 600 hours (an average of 20 hours per week) in practicum and a total of 10 hours per quarter in practicum seminar for a total of 630 hours in three quarters
- Part-time students complete 580 hours (an average of 10 hours per week) and a total of 9 hours per quarter in practicum seminar (45 total hours) for a total of 625 hours in five quarters.
MSW Innovative Program Combinations
The School of Social Work offers several ways in which students can focus their programs of study to meet their professional educational goals. Interested students should contact the Graduate Program Director for additional information and/or the Directors associated with the programs listed below.
Child Welfare Training & Advancement Program (CWTAP)
The CWTAP is a federally funded, Title IV-E partnership between Washington’s Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) and participating public universities. Eastern is proud to be part of this successful, long-standing partnership. CWTAP is designed for current child welfare professionals pursuing their MSW, and for other MSW students interested in child welfare as a career path. In exchange for receiving financial assistance, CWTAP students agree to work for Washington’s DCYF following graduation. CWTAP students complete their practicum in DCYF offices. Contact Diana LeBlanc, dpatterson@ewu.edu
Graduate Certificates and Other Certification
A graduate certificate is a coherent academic program approved by the Graduate Affairs Council and listed in the university catalog. Students must apply to receive this certificate by filling out a Graduate Application with the code of the certificate program they are applying for. Graduate certificate programs are normally between 12 and 20 credits in specified courses from a given discipline or set of related disciplines. Students applying for a graduate certificate may use up to 12 credits toward their MSW electives. Exceptions to this are noted below.
Addiction Studies Graduate Certificate: This 30-credit Addiction Studies Graduate Certificate is designed for persons who have completed a bachelor’s degree with a background in social work or a related field and are interested in obtaining coursework that can lead to certification as a Substance Use Disorder Professional. Contact Addiction Studies at adst@ewu.edu
Disability Studies: The Disability Studies graduate certificate program (15 credits) will show you that disability is part of the tapestry of a diverse society. It emphasizes "universal access," the philosophy that society should be inclusive of people of all diverse backgrounds and traits, and that the responsibility for diversity transcends traditional identity-based characteristics. Universal access (UA) embraces an approach that responsible societies do not just accommodate minorities, but are constructed for all people, majority and minority, typical and atypical. Contact Disability Studies Director Ryan Parrey, PhD, rparrey@ewu.edu
Palliative Care: This 12-credit graduate certificate of completion in Palliative Care addresses the physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual suffering generated by chronic, life-limiting, life-threatening, and terminal illness. Courses include Grief & Loss, Death & Dying, and Introduction to Palliative Care. Contact Rie Kobayashi, Professor and Interim Director of Aging Studies, rkobayashi@ewu.edu
School Social Worker Certification (Not an EWU certification/only for WA State): For students interested in school social work, this elective is required by the State of Washington, School Social Work and School Law. This elective is generally offered online in the winter quarter. Information is available online at the WA Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Education Staff Associate (ESA)-School Social Work.
Center for Aging Studies
The Center provides interested MSW students opportunities to focus their course work and practicum experience in practice with older adults. The Center has strong community and organizational linkages to develop programs that better meet the needs of our aging population. Students may receive mentoring to participate in a Gerontology Symposium that is connected to the EWU Research and Creative Works Symposium. Contact Rie Kobayashi, Professor and Interim Director of Aging Studies, rkobayashi@ewu.edu
Dual & Combined Degrees: Those interested in a dual or a combined degree with their MSW will want to consult with the contacts listed for each degree. For further MSW information, contact the Graduate Program Director at MSW@ewu.edu
MSW/JD (Law) Degree: This degree is offered in collaboration with Gonzaga University Law School. Candidates must apply and be admitted to both Gonzaga School of Law and EWU School of Social Work via each school’s established admissions process; before they will be considered for admission to the dual degree program (Law candidates must complete the LSAT exam.) For information about admission to the dual degree program, candidates should contact the admission offices of both Gonzaga Law School and Eastern Washington University School of Social Work, simultaneously, and go through the admission process for each school. The EWU MSW accepts 9 semester credits from GU Law towards elective credits required in the MSW Program. Likewise, GU Law accepts credits from the EWU MSW Program as electives towards the J.D. For more information contact Deb Svoboda, PhD, dsvoboda@ewu.edu
MSW/MPA - Master Degree in Social Work and Public Administration: This degree allows students to prepare for professional employment in both social work and public administration. There are 122 total credits required for the MSW/MPA for two year and part time students and 83 total credits for MSW/MPA Advanced Standing students. Dual degree students use SOWK 525 and SOWK 526 to substitute for PADM 501. Students must be accepted into both programs before graduating from one in order to qualify for the Dual Degree Program. Contact MPA Director Courtney Jensen, PhD, cejensen@ewu.edu
MSW - MA in Addiction Studies: This degree allows students to obtain a MA in Addiction Studies using 12 approved credits from the MSW program to serve as specialized content. Students interested in this degree option must be currently enrolled in the MSW program or recently graduated from the MSW program within the past three years. The MSW SOWK 540 is counted for the MA Addiction Studies degree. This program provides the addiction-specific course competencies required by the Department of Health to satisfy the academic requirements of the Substance Use Disorder Professional (SUDP) credential in Washington state. Additional requirements for the SUDP include a background check, passing the NCAC Level I or II exam, and completing 1,500 supervised hours in an approved agency as a substance use disorder trainee (SUDPT). Contact Addiction Studies for details and application information, adst@ewu.edu
Social Work Courses
SOWK 196. EXPERIMENTAL COURSE. 1-6 Credits.
Experimental course.
SOWK 273. INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: ENGL 101.
Provides an introduction to the history, structure, and process of the institution of social welfare and its relationship to the profession of social work and to society. Introduces social work values, ethics, roles, theories, perspectives, and practices, as well as the diverse fields of practice within social work. It introduces the experiences and perspectives of those who are clients of the human services delivery system.
SOWK 320. AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY. 5 Credits.
Cross-listed: AAST 320.
The African American Family as a social system influenced by institutions of the larger American society.
SOWK 378. HUMAN DEVELOPMENT OVER THE LIFESPAN. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: BASW major.
A cell to society approach is used to understand human behavior from the smallest levels of biological organization to the largest levels of social and physical system organization. Major conceptual and theoretical frameworks are presented. Students identify how multisystemic factors influence human behavior and how social workers can intervene.
SOWK 381. DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN SOCIAL WORK. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: BASW Major.
Emphasizes the development of a knowledge base and skills for working in a diverse society at both the direct and indirect practice levels. Diverse populations refers mainly to major ethnic/racial groups although other oppressed populations are addressed. While brief descriptive materials are explored for each population, a primary critical task is the examination of one's own attitudes and values. Models of evidence-based practice with diverse populations are presented.
SOWK 396. EXPERIMENTAL COURSE. 1-6 Credits.
Experimental course, title and credits vary.
SOWK 402. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. 4 Credits.
Notes: may be stacked with SOWK 502.
Pre-requisites: ENGL 101.
Develops a theoretical basis for environmental justice in all levels of social work practice, focusing on both assessment and intervention for/with client populations regarding their natural environment, as well as how to advocate for both clients and their natural environment. Content includes scholarship and practice learned from the ecological and environmental movements and the movements to address climate crises.
SOWK 415. INTRODUCTION TO PALLIATIVE CARE. 4 Credits.
Cross-listed: AGST 415.
Pre-requisites: junior standing.
Palliative care is an interdisciplinary and holistic approach for those with a life threatening illness. It aims to improve the quality of life of patients and their families through prevention, psychological and spiritual care. This course will focus on identifying gaps in end of life care and emerging models of palliative care, assessing the psychological, medical, and spiritual needs of someone living with illness, while emphasizing the importance of cultural sensitivity in service delivery.
SOWK 418. FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT IN SOCIAL WORK. 4 Credits.
Notes: may be stacked with SOWK 518.
Pre-requisites: junior standing.
Building financial capability for all is one of the grand challenges for social work. This course equips students with financial knowledge and skills to empower themselves and their clients to move along the path of financial stability and economic security.
SOWK 422. SPIRITUALITY AND SOCIAL WORK. 4 Credits.
This overview of spirituality and social work provides a framework of knowledge, values and skills for spiritually sensitive social work practice and prepares students to respond competently and ethically to diverse spiritual perspectives through a comparative, critically reflective approach.
SOWK 424. INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL WORK. 4 Credits.
Notes: may be stacked with SOWK 538.
Pre-requisites: permission of instructor.
This variable topic course provides students with a cross cultural experience in which they learn about another culture, social development, and various ideologies of social welfare. Students learn about social development strategies intended to address specific social problems and social justice issues.
SOWK 425. FAMILY VIOLENCE. 4 Credits.
Cross-listed: GWSS 425.
Pre-requisites: ENGL 201.
Addresses contemporary concerns about family violence and discusses feminist perspectives on violence in the family. Theories about the historical and socio-cultural context of family violence and other explanatory theories provide frameworks for understanding personal and societal responses to family violence. Discussions include dynamics of trauma and recovery and all forms of family violence. Treatment approaches are discussed.
SOWK 429. SOCIAL WORK IN HEALTH CARE. 4 Credits.
Notes: may be stacked with SOWK 529.
Pre-requisites: seniors and graduate students in the School of Social Work and related fields.
Provides knowledge and understanding of direct social work practice in various health care settings. The effect of managed care and other current macro practice issues are explored along with the continuum of health care. Advances in biotechnology and bioethics perspectives are examined. The roles that diversity plays in social work health care practice are emphasized. Self-awareness as a medical social worker is explored.
SOWK 435. FORENSIC SOCIAL WORK. 4 Credits.
Introduction to the overlap between the judicial and social work professions. This overlap has been growing in the past 25 years and offers multiple career opportunities in this field, including, among others, child welfare services, juvenile justice, criminal justice, mental health treatment and evaluation, social justice and community organizing, domestic relations and domestic violence prevention.
SOWK 437. INDIAN CHILD WELFARE. 5 Credits.
Cross-listed: IDST 437.
Notes: The Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA, United States Code Title 25, §1901-1963) is central to this course and child welfare practice.
Pre-requisites: ENGL 101.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–diversity.
Examines movements that shape or challenge systems of power, privilege, oppression, and colonization. American Indians challenged state removal of their children resulting in federal law affirming tribal rights to protect families and children. Indian Child Welfare (ICW) covers legal, historical, and cultural issues applying to work with American Indian and Alaska Native families. Tribal and state child welfare perspectives are needed to understand ICW.
SOWK 445. BEHAVIORAL AND COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: SOWK 476.
Introduces the theory and practice of behavioral and cognitive behavioral assessment and intervention. Key concepts of applied behavior analysis, including behavioral assessment and interventions, and evaluating these interventions are taught and practiced. Students learn and practice the process of cognitive restructuring with thoughts and pervasive beliefs.
SOWK 449. GRIEF, LOSS AND RESILIENCE. 4 Credits.
Cross-listed: AGST 449.
Notes: may be stacked with SOWK 549.
Pre-requisites: junior standing.
Grief and loss are woven throughout the human experience. Helping professionals must be ready to deal with their own grief and loss as well as that of their clients. Losses may accompany forms of addictions, disability, divorce, job loss, moves, placement disruptions, relationship breaks and death. Grief is a spectrum of emotions experienced in response to loss. Students will learn about the varied presentations of grief, theories of grief, what supports can be employed for healthy grief.
SOWK 452. GENDER AND SEXUAL ASSAULT. 4 Credits.
Cross-listed: GWSS 452.
Pre-requisites: ENGL 201.
Addresses contemporary concerns about sexual assault, primarily, but not exclusively, against women. Feminist perspectives on gender socialization and sexual violence provide frameworks for understanding personal and societal responses to sexual violence. Dynamics of trauma and recovery, treatment, prevention, and change strategies are discussed.
SOWK 458. PERSPECTIVES ON DEATH AND DYING. 4 Credits.
Cross-listed: AGST 458.
Notes: may be stacked with SOWK 574 or AGST 574.
This course is designed to assist students in the helping professions who wish to work with the terminally ill. Focus will be on an increased ability to deal with one’s own mortality; the development of beginning skills for working with the terminally ill and their families; an understanding of the complex social system which surrounds death in modern America; as well as the current moral, ethical and philosophical issues in the field.
SOWK 459. SURVEY OF MICROSYSTEMIC PRACTICE THEORIES. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: BASW major.
Prepares students for professional agency roles using theories and methods common in micro systemic social work practice. Students describe and analyze theories through the practice lenses of engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation. Students distinguish, appraise, and integrate multiple sources of knowledge, including research-based and anti-oppressive knowledge, to prepare for effective service delivery.
SOWK 464. SOCIAL WORK CASE MANAGEMENT. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: BASW Major.
Provides students with the skills and knowledge to practice professional, strengths-based, and social justice-focused social work case management. It defines case management and introduces a broad range of interventions with corresponding evaluations across diverse populations and the development of culturally-informed strategies and practices. The course highlights the importance of communication and relationship building.
SOWK 467. INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: BASW Major.
A practice-oriented course that seeks to empower social workers to engage in the policy arena. It demonstrates how social workers can impact policy development, implementation, and analysis in partnership with their clients and other human services advocates. The course includes an overview of civics with students learning policy research and analysis skills and strategies to advocate for fair and just policy change within the human services delivery system.
SOWK 468. SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: BASW major.
Prepares students to evaluate research findings and to engage in evidence based social work practice.
SOWK 469. DATA ANALYSIS FOR SOCIAL WORK. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: BASW Major.
Covers descriptive and inferential statistics. Students are introduced to software for data analysis.
SOWK 470. SOCIAL POLICY ANALYSIS. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: BASW major.
An applied practice-oriented course that builds on policy practice concepts introduced in the first year policy course (Introduction to Social Welfare Policy). In this course, students work in groups to advocate for policy change(s) pertaining to a social welfare issue impacting the communities they serve. Students directly engage policymakers and other policy advocates—locally, statewide, and/or nationally—while offering assistance in promoting policy change efforts.
SOWK 471. HUMAN RIGHTS AND WOMEN'S RIGHTS. 4 Credits.
Cross-listed: GWSS 471.
Pre-requisites: junior standing.
Examines the history of human rights and dignity using the declaration of rights by the United Nations, research and initiatives by the World Health Organization, and other international human rights groups. Covers topics on the human rights of women and children including health, food insecurity, economic status, housing, education, violence, war crimes, and residency/citizenship status. Examines strategies for furthering human rights on the global stage.
SOWK 472. SOCIAL WORK WITH VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES. 4 Credits.
Notes: may be stacked with SOWK 564.
Due to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, there is an increased need for social workers to be prepared to work with veterans and military service members. Over a million soldiers have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and nearly half of those soldiers are National Guard or Reserve members. As soldiers continue to deploy and return from service overseas, they and their families’ needs for professional social work services will continue to increase.
SOWK 473. SOCIAL WORK IN ORGANIZATIONAL AND COMMUNITY CONTEXT. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: BASW Major.
Introduces mezzo and macro practice in human services organizations and communities including theories, engagement skills and methods, and assessment processes. In addition, provides the framework for social work practice within public or private organizations. Students learn to apply theories and models of practice to local and regional communities and organizations.
SOWK 476. SOCIAL WORK ENGAGEMENT AND ASSESSMENT. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: BASW major.
Relationship building skills are emphasized to begin gathering and interpreting biopsychosocial data on the interactions between individuals, families, and other groups and their environments. Emphasizes culturally competent, strengths-based and systems-oriented assessment. Demonstrates how social work values and the generalist perspective guide engagement. Explores the role of self in helping process.
SOWK 477. SOCIAL WORK WITH COMMUNITIES. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: BASW major.
Prepares students to engage with, assess the needs and assets of, and plan for action, with communities. Also, guides students in experiences of direct assessment and action in the context of community. Students learn to apply Asset Based Community and Social Development models in their work with communities toward social justice and sustainable change in communities and services.
SOWK 479. SOCIAL WORK WITH GROUPS. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: BASW major.
Focuses on the social work skills for working with groups. Values, use of self, cultural competence, strengths, and resources continue to be important practice skills within this new context. Critical thinking and effective communication are additional foci for knowledge and skill development.
SOWK 480. FIELD PREPARATION. 1 Credit.
Notes: graded Pass/Fail.
Pre-requisites: BASW Major.
Prepares students to enter the social work practicum/seminar. Students learn how to create a résumé, be interviewed for an agency placement, and learn how to be a student worker within a social service environment. Students integrate their knowledge and skills with practices in the agency.
SOWK 482. PRACTICUM/SEMINAR. 1-6 Credits.
Notes: Graded Pass/No Credit. Must be repeated three times for a total of 15 credits.
Pre-requisites: BASW major in good standing and SOWK 480.
Students integrate coursework in a practice setting and process agency experience in a seminar setting. In a social work agency, students, agency field instructors and faculty field instructors plan activities which support the development of generalist skills as specified in individualized learning agreements.
SOWK 485. HOMELESSNESS: SERVICES, POLICIES AND NEW DIRECTIONS. 4 Credits.
Notes: may be stacked with SOWK 585.
Pre-requisites: junior standing.
Examines the issue of homelessness in America while highlighting demographics, causes, and regional variations. Special attention is paid to homelessness and related services within the state of Washington. Various service approaches are examined, including: shelter and other supports designed to assist individuals and families cope with homelessness, transitional and other supportive housing programs, and homelessness prevention.
SOWK 487. LAW AND ETHICS IN SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE. 4 Credits.
Notes: may be stacked with SOWK 587.
Explores the use of an ethical and law-based framework for the analysis of social work dilemmas and problem solving in practice and real world professional settings. In this way it expands and operationalizes the use of these sources of decision making introduced in other social work practice and policy courses. The legal component of the decision making framework constructed in the class supplements student knowledge gained in a preliminary manner in other social work practice.
SOWK 490. SOCIAL WORK SENIOR CAPSTONE. 4 Credits.
Notes: this course should be taken in the student's final quarter in the BASW program.
Pre-requisites: senior and in good standing as a BASW major.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–senior capstone.
This course further develops students’ applied knowledge and skill in the domains of critical, integrative, multidimensional and contextual thinking; cultural competence; social work practice with populations at risk; civic mindedness; professional identity; problem solving; the ability to understand the connection between social policy, social problems and social work practice; and evidence based social work practice.
SOWK 492. CHILD WELFARE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. 4 Credits.
The function and purposes of child welfare programs, public and private; child welfare legislation; trends in child welfare services. Elective.
SOWK 496. EXPERIMENTAL COURSE. 1-6 Credits.
Experimental course, title and credits vary.
SOWK 497. WORKSHOP, SHORT COURSE, CONFERENCE, SEMINAR. 1-5 Credits.
Short duration programs of contemporary significance in societal-cultural behavior areas. The range and scope of topics are essentially interdisciplinary, and students from all academic areas are eligible to participate.
SOWK 499. DIRECTED STUDY. 1-5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: permission of the instructor, department chair and college dean.
Independent study in selected areas of social work. Open to seniors and graduate students from any department. Elective.
SOWK 501. TRAUMA INFORMED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing in the MSW program.
Designed to give the participant a working knowledge of how to engage in the process of trauma treatment as a clinical social worker. In behavioral health settings clients presenting with trauma may be the norm instead of the exception, and this course is designed to improve the quality of treatment for those who have experienced trauma. There is an emphasis on the common factors that help all trauma treatment become more effective.
SOWK 502. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. 4 Credits.
Notes: may be stacked with SOWK 402.
Develops a theoretical basis for environmental justice in all levels of social work practice, focusing on both assessment and intervention for/with client populations regarding their natural environment, as well as how to advocate for both clients and their natural environment. Content includes scholarship and practice learned from the ecological and environmental movements and the movements to address climate crises.
SOWK 515. INTRODUCTION TO PALLIATIVE CARE. 4 Credits.
Cross-listed: AGST 515.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing.
Palliative care is an interdisciplinary and holistic approach for those who have a life threatening illness. It aims improve the quality of life of patients and their families through prevention, psychological and spiritual care, etc. This course will focus on identifying current gaps in end of life care and emerging models of palliative care, assessment of the psychological, medical, and spiritual needs of someone living with illness, the importance of cultural sensitivity in service delivery.
SOWK 518. FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT IN SOCIAL WORK. 4 Credits.
Notes: may be stacked with SOWK 418.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing.
Building financial capability for all is one of the grand challenges for social work. This course equips students with financial knowledge and skills to empower themselves and their clients to move along the path of financial stability and economic security.
SOWK 525. RESEARCH METHODS FOR PROGRAM AND PRACTICE EVALUATION. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing in the MSW program or permission of the instructor.
An overview of methods and procedures for conducting research in social work. Attention is given to research designs for evaluating social work practice with small systems and social welfare programs. Students learn to critically evaluate and utilize research, select research instruments, and design applied research projects.
SOWK 526. RESEARCH METHODS II. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: SOWK 525 or SOWK 561.
Facilitates the integration of foundation year research knowledge into a form that readily applies to professional social work practice. Students learn how to apply and utilize research data through an exploratory best practice model and other models by deconstructing existing research.
SOWK 529. SOCIAL WORK IN HEALTH CARE. 4 Credits.
Notes: may be stacked with SOWK 429.
Pre-requisites: open to seniors and graduate students in the School of Social Work and related fields.
Designed to provide knowledge and understanding of direct social work practice in various health care settings. Students examine the impact of illness, disease, trauma/disability, and death and dying from ecological and systems perspectives. Roles, functions, and administrative responsibilities of the social worker as case manager, health educator, advocate, and a member of interdisciplinary teams are reviewed.
SOWK 530. ORGANIZATIONAL AND COMMUNITY PRACTICE. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing in the MSW program or permission of the instructor.
Explores the nature of community organizations and social service delivery systems and their relationships to other community systems. Attention is given to understanding the dynamics of power, economics, politics, and social policies impacting the life of organizations and communities. Students are introduced to ways of assessing organizations and communities with a particular emphasis on community collaborative networks and partnership projects that impact services.
SOWK 531. INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WELFARE AND POLICY. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing in the MSW program or permission of the instructor.
The impact of the political economy on the social welfare system and the pursuit of social justice is the focus of this course. Social welfare history, social values, social policies, social institutions, and basic services and programs are explored, especially those that affect populations-at-risk. The course develops understanding of the ways in which the social welfare system is both shaped by and influences political, economic, social, environmental and cultural forces.
SOWK 532. FOUNDATIONS OF PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing in the MSW program or permission of the instructor.
Provides a framework for understanding the mission and purpose of social work practice, the historical roots and ethical foundations for the profession and emerging themes and models of practice. Highlights required theoretical knowledge for informed practice, advanced generalist practice principles, and the specific roles in day-by-day professional practice.
SOWK 533. SOCIAL WORK ASSESSMENT AND PRACTICE WITH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing in the MSW program or permission of the instructor.
Examines individual and family intervention within American social systems across ethnic, social, class and gender differences. Students learn effective strengths-based interviewing processes with individuals and families and build communications skills. The organizing framework for intervention is ecological systems and a strengths perspective. Current practice models that incorporate the organizing framework are reviewed for their application to specific problem situations.
SOWK 534. HUMAN RIGHTS AND WOMEN'S RIGHTS. 4 Credits.
Notes: may be stacked with SOWK 471 or GWSS 471.
An interdisciplinary course for students in social work and women’s studies, who are interested in how human rights standards can be understood and applied in social work and civic life. Explores how the promotion of human rights relates to the mission of social work and women’s studies and how this knowledge can affect social change efforts and promote civil society.
SOWK 536. SPIRITUALITY AND SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE. 4 Credits.
Notes: may be stacked with SOWK 422.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing or permission of instructor.
This overview of spirituality and social work provides a framework of knowledge, values and skills for spiritually sensitive social work practice and prepares students to respond competently and ethically to diverse spiritual perspectives through a comparative, critically reflective approach.
SOWK 537. INDIAN CHILD WELFARE. 4 Credits.
Provides an introduction to Indian child welfare with an emphasis on understanding legal, historical, and cultural issues applying to work with American Indian and Alaska Native youth. Emphasizes Indian child welfare issues relevant to the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana).
SOWK 538. INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL WORK. 4 Credits.
Notes: may be stacked with SOWK 424.
Pre-requisites: permission of the instructor.
Provides students with a cross-cultural experience in which they learn about various cultural norms, social development, and ideologies of social welfare from the unique perspective of the area visited. Students learn about social development strategies intended to address specific social problems and social justice issues relevant to the native population of the region.
SOWK 540. HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN CONTEMPORARY ENVIRONMENTS. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing in the MSW program or permission of the instructor.
Research and theory about contexts and interactions influencing human development over the life course. Emphasis on understanding life course development in oppressed, vulnerable, and underserved populations. Critical attention is paid to the use and limits of research and theory in relation to these populations.
SOWK 541. SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE IN A DIVERSE SOCIETY. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing in the MSW program or permission of the instructor.
Emphasizes bridging gaps between people through modeling of discourse and idea-sharing. Emphasizes the development of a knowledge base and skills for promoting social justice for vulnerable and oppressed individuals and populations. A primary critical skill is the examination of one’s own attitudes, biases, and values, which students are asked to demonstrate on a weekly basis and in every assignment.
SOWK 542. CWTAP: FOCUS ON PUBLIC CHILD WELFARE. 4 Credits.
Designed to enhance students’ knowledge and practice in public child welfare. Students examine current models of assessment and intervention within public child welfare and explore challenges facing client systems and child welfare professionals. Students learn about different aspects, positions, and interpretations of Dependency law and examine divergent practices within DCYF to engage clients within the judicial system.
SOWK 544. SPECIAL PROBLEMS: FAMILY VIOLENCE. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing.
Students identify factors related to stress in families, socioeconomic and cultural patterns, historical traditions, and societal values and investigate how these may relate to violent behavior.
SOWK 545. COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing.
Offers advanced knowledge of cognitive-behavioral principles and interventions. Applies common elements of assessment, psychoeducation, behavioral activation, relaxation, affect regulation, cognitive coping, cognitive restructuring, and exposure to treat depression, anxiety, behavior problems, trauma, and substance use. Highlights cultural adaptations for cognitive behavioral therapies.
SOWK 546. MINDFULNESS AND ACCEPTANCE APPROACHES IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: current MSW student or by permission of instructor.
Introduces the theory and practice of acceptance and mindfulness applications in cognitive behavioral interventions. Facilitates understanding of; key concepts of cognitive behavioral therapy, including acceptance and mindfulness approaches, key concepts of assessment, including value inventories, and types of acceptance and mindfulness CBT interventions, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
SOWK 547. MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING. 4 Credits.
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an effective evidenced-based approach to overcoming the factors that keep people from making desired changes in their lives even after seeking or being referred to professional treatment. This course reviews the conceptual and research background supporting MI and the Transtheoretical Model (Stages of Change-SOC) and provides practice in implementing the skills involved in their approaches.
SOWK 549. GRIEF, LOSS AND RESILIENCE. 4 Credits.
Cross-listed: AGST 549.
Notes: may be stacked with SOWK 449.
Grief and loss are woven throughout the human experience. Helping professionals must be ready to deal with their own grief and loss as well as that of their clients. Losses may accompany forms of addictions, disability, divorce, job loss, moves, placement disruptions, relationship breaks and death. Grief is a spectrum of emotions experienced in response to loss. Students will learn about the varied presentations of grief, theories of grief, what supports can be employed for healthy grief.
SOWK 550. SOCIAL WORK WITH GROUPS. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing in the MSW program or permission of the instructor.
Develops knowledge and skills for social work practice with groups and natural helping systems. Prepares students to utilize mutual aid groups as a helping resource for clients, facilitate treatment groups, and participate effectively as a member of committees, interagency teams, and other task groups. The practice of work with groups is presented through lecture and discussion, observational assignments, role plays, and participation in small group learning experiences.
SOWK 553. SOCIAL WORK INTERVENTION AND EVALUATION WITH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing in the MSW program or permission of the instructor.
Focuses on intervention and ongoing assessment as well as the evaluation phases of generalist social work practice. Provides didactic and experiential learning experiences relative to communication strategies, counseling/ therapy skills, practice evaluation strategies, and supervision/consultation. At the completion of the course, students have the ability to engage in generalist social work practice with individuals and families.
SOWK 559. SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK AND SCHOOL LAW. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing and permission of the instructor.
Reviews Federal and State legislation as well as local policies that affect the role of the social worker in the public school. Reviews how the school system functions as a part of our total society. Describes how social work knowledge, skills, and values provide an ecological approach to preventative, crisis, and remedial care for school children and their families.
SOWK 561. ADVANCED STANDING SEMINAR. 6 Credits.
Pre-requisites: admission into advanced standing MSW program or permission of MSW Director.
Provides Advanced Standing students an overview of the foundation requirements for advanced study in the MSW program. Prepares students with additional problem formulation, sampling, data collection, measurement, and research designs to complete the advanced year applied research project.
SOWK 562. SUICIDE ASSESSMENT, TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT. 4 Credits.
Cross-listed: ADST 562.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing.
This course explores the theoretical foundation in the clinical assessment, treatment and management of suicidal risk over time through case management with suicidal persons. Additionally, we will review instructions in “evidenced-based” and “best practices” for the treatment and case management with the suicidal person within the scope of practice. We also have role play exercises that include therapeutic interventions and initial treatment planning including case notes.
SOWK 564. SOCIAL WORK WITH VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES. 4 Credits.
Includes content on military culture, strengths and needs of military families, and interventions for military service members and their families. Prepares social workers to work with veterans and military service members. As soldiers continue to deploy and return from service, they and their families’ needs for professional social work services will continue to increase. This means that social workers in all areas of practice need to be educated about working with this population.
SOWK 568. PROSEMINARS IN SOCIAL WELFARE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: SOWK 525, SOWK 531 and 2 credits of SOWK 571; or SOWK 561.
Examines social work as a policy-based profession and social workers as policy practitioners. Advanced seminars on current policy and program developments in contemporary areas of social welfare that impact populations at-risk, e.g. health care, aging, mental health, and services to children and families. Seminars provide research and theory pertaining to social problems and institutional responses. Three domains of institutional response—legal, professional, and program—are covered.
SOWK 571. FOUNDATION PRACTICUM/SEMINAR. 1-4 Credits.
Notes: graded Pass/No Credit. A total of 4 credits distributed over 2 quarters for the full-time program and over 3 quarters for the part-time programs.
Pre-requisites: SOWK 531, SOWK 532, SOWK 553.
Students utilize the agency setting for integration of coursework knowledge and for the development of professional practice skills. Practicum is a supervised experience which allows students to learn to use supervision as a professional development process and to receive feedback concerning their professional functioning.
SOWK 574. PERSPECTIVES ON DEATH AND DYING. 4 Credits.
Cross-listed: AGST 574.
Notes: may be stacked with SOWK 458 or AGST 458.
This course explores issues related to death, dying, grief and loss as well as their relevance and application to social work practice. The content draws from an interdisciplinary knowledge base and emphasizes the acquisition of practice skills. Topics include loss events throughout the life span; psychological and sociological theoretical perspectives in death, dying, grief and loss.
SOWK 576. ADDICTION: A BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL APPROACH. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing.
Applies the biopsychosocial perspective to the field of substance use disorders. Emphasis is on an examination of the reciprocal interaction between the individual experiencing addiction and the various systems that impact misuse, addiction, treatment, and recovery.
SOWK 579. GENDER AND SEXUAL ASSAULT. 4 Credits.
Notes: may be stacked with SOWK 452.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing or permission of instructor.
Addresses contemporary concerns about sexual assault primarily, but not exclusively against women. Theories about the sociocultural context of gender socialization and other explanatory theories provide a framework for understanding personal and societal responses to sexual violence. Surveys all forms of sexual violence and discusses dynamics of trauma and recovery. Treatment approaches are discussed.
SOWK 580. FIELD PREPARATION. 1 Credit.
Notes: graded Pass/No Credit.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing in the MSW program or permission of instructor.
Serves as an introduction to field practicum and to a community agency setting. It provides the necessary information, skills, and practices to maximize success in the field practicum.
SOWK 585. HOMELESSNESS: SERVICES, POLICIES AND NEW DIRECTIONS. 4 Credits.
Notes: may be stacked with SOWK 485.
Examines the issue of homelessness in America while highlighting demographics, causes, and regional variations. Special attention is paid to homelessness and related services within the state of Washington. Various service approaches are examined, including: shelter and other supports designed to assist individuals and families cope with homelessness, transitional and other supportive housing programs, and homelessness prevention.
SOWK 587. LAW AND ETHICS IN SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE. 4 Credits.
Notes: may be stacked with SOWK 487.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing or permission of instructor.
Explores the use of an ethical and law-based framework for the analysis of social work dilemmas and problem solving in practice and real world professional settings. In this way it expands and operationalizes the use of these sources of decision making introduced in other social work practice and policy courses. The legal component of the decision making framework constructed in the class supplements student knowledge gained in a preliminary manner in other social work practice.
SOWK 589. FORENSIC SOCIAL WORK. 4 Credits.
Notes: may be stacked with SOWK 435.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing or permission of instructor.
Introduces the overlap between the judicial and social work professions. This overlap has been growing in the past 25 years and offers multiple opportunities to students for career opportunities in this field, including, among others, child welfare services, juvenile justice, criminal justice, mental health treatment and evaluation, social justice and community organizing, domestic relations, and domestic violence prevention.
SOWK 596. EXPERIMENTAL COURSE. 1-5 Credits.
Experimental course.
SOWK 597. WORKSHOP, SHORT COURSE, CONFERENCE, SEMINAR. 1-5 Credits.
Notes: only one workshop course for up to 3 credits may be used to fulfill graduate degree requirements.
Workshop.
SOWK 599. INDEPENDENT STUDY. 1-5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: permission of the instructor, department chair and college dean.
Intensive and independent study of some special area in social work or social welfare.
SOWK 600. THESIS. 1-15 Credits.
Pre-requisites: permission of the instructor, department chair and college dean.
Thesis.
SOWK 601. RESEARCH PROJECT. 1-15 Credits.
Pre-requisites: permission of the instructor, department chair and college dean.
Individually supervised research work.
SOWK 602. CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS AND EVIDENCE BASED TREATMENT. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: SOWK 553 or currently enrolled in SOWK 561.
Examines evidence-based treatments across the lifespan from a social work perspective, with a specific focus on the most common mental disorders and evidence-based treatments. Students demonstrate application of the most current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and become critical consumers of evidence-based treatment research with diverse populations. Emphasizes strengths and ecological systems perspectives, risk, and resiliency.
SOWK 603. LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT IN HUMAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: SOWK 530 or SOWK 561.
Designed to expand students’ knowledge and understanding of human service organizations and to provide approaches for designing and managing human service programs effectively. Organizational and management theories and principles are applied to a range of human services. Focuses on the knowledge, values, and skills needed for successful leadership in creating a meaningful work environment, managing organizational outcomes, and engaging the community.
SOWK 671. ADVANCED PRACTICUM/SEMINAR. 1-6 Credits.
Notes: graded Pass/No Credit.
Pre-requisites: SOWK 571 or SOWK 561.
(A total of 13 credits distributed over three quarters for the full-time program and over five quarters for the part-time programs).
Advanced Practicum/Seminar is the laboratory for application of classroom learning. In practicum, students utilize the agency setting for integration of advanced course content. In seminar, students focus on the integration of theory and practice, the facilitation of skill development, and the articulation of competencies in practice.
SOWK 695. INTERNSHIP. 1-5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: permission of the instructor, department chair and college dean.
SOWK 696. EXPERIMENTAL. 1-5 Credits.
Experimental.